Hong Kong lawmakers seek to block mask ban; protests go on

HONG KONG — A group of pro-democracy Hong Kong legislators filed a legal challenge Saturday against the government’s use of a colonial-era emergency law to criminalize the wearing of face masks at rallies to quell antigovernment demonstrations, as the protests diminished in intensity but didn’t stop.

The mask ban that went into effect at midnight Friday triggered an overnight rash of widespread violence and destruction in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, including the setting of fires and attacks on an off-duty police officer who fired a live shot in self-defense that wounded a 14-year-old.

Two activists failed to obtain a court injunction Friday against the ban on face coverings that the government says have made it tough for police to identify radical protesters.

In a second bid, lawmaker Dennis Kwok said a group of 24 legislators filed a legal appeal to block the anti-mask law on wider constitutional grounds. He said the city’s leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, acted in bad faith by bypassing the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s parliament, in invoking the emergency law.

“This is a Henry the 8th situation. This is basically I say what is law and I say when that ceases to be law. That’s not how our constitution works,” Kwok told a news conference late Saturday. “We say that she doesn’t have such powers, that she cannot avoid” the Legislative Council.

The court will hear the case Sunday morning. Lam has said she will seek the council’s backing for the law when its session resumes Oct. 16 and hasn’t ruled out further measures if the violence continues.

In a televised address broadcast as protesters again marched in masks on Saturday, a solemn Lam described Hong Kong as “semi-paralyzed” and reiterated the mask ban was needed to stop the violence.

PHILIP FONG/GETTY-AFP A woman holds a mask with slogans as protesters gather outside Mong Kok police station Saturday. Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, outlawed face coverings Friday.